Raising boom



E. A. BENDER RAISING BOOM Feb. 20, 1951 Filed oct. e, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lm mAYM M 5 E. A. BENDER RAISING BOOM Feb. 20, 1951 3 Smets-Sheet 2 Filed oc't. 6, 1944 Feb. 20, 1951 E. A. BENDER 2,542,176 l RAISING BOOMl Filed Oct. 6, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR 7n/L f1 EENDEK 5f mx Patented Feb. 20,` 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAISING BOOM Emil A. Bender, Bakersfield, Calif.

Application October 6, 1944, Serial N0. 557,522

' 6 Claims. l

This invention relates to a derrick raising apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for swinging a hinged portable derrick upwardly to its vertical operative position.

In the copending application of Emil A. Bender and Robert E. McCarthy, led June 28, 1944, now Patent No. 2,413,149, there is disclosed a novel type of portable derrick particularly adapted for drilling oil wells, wherein the derrick proper is supported by a base structure in such a manner that the structure may be shipped to the site of a proposed oil well and the base structure properly set up, whereupon the derrick proper may be swung upwardly on a pivot axis to its vertical operative position. In the copending application referred to, there is disclosed an arm or boom operative for swinging the derrick proper to its vertical position.

An important object of the present invention is to provide improved and novel means for swinging a portable derrick, such as one of the type disclosed, to its vertical operative position, the structure being Such as to be easily and readily operable.

A further object is to provide such an improved boom or derrick raising structure of such character that the raising boom itself may be readily moved from its horizontal position into an operative position from which the raising of the derrick may be initiated.

A further object is to provide such a structure which directly cooperates with the pivotal supporting means for the derrick so that the latter and the boom structure swing about the same axis as the derrick is moved to its vertical position.

A further object is to provide a novel construction of this type wherein any desired power ratio may be provided through suitable novel sheaving through which the derrick may be easily raised.

A further object is to provide a dual boom arrangement wherein the two booms directly cooperate with each other in facilitating the raising of the derrick, and wherein the boom structure may be shipped to the site with the derrick structure and may be readily removed after the derrick has been set up for operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodimentv of the invention. In this showing- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portable derrick structure showing the invention applied,

Figure 2 is a detail perspective view ofl the derricl: raising mechanism and associated elements,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevation of a tion of the derrick raising means,

Figure 5 is an enlarged end elevation showing the sheave ends of the dual boom elements,

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the sheaving of the cables of the booms, and

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the boom raising means shown in its collapsed position on the top of the derrick when the latter is in the horizontal shipping position.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral I0 designates the' elongated base of a derrick structure at the front or well end of which is arranged an upstanding base structure II having Yfront legs I2 (Figure 3) and rear legs I3. The horizontal base Il] rests upon and is secured to a transversely elongated sub-base I4 at the forward end of the base I0, and the rear end of this base rests upon an auxiliary substructure I5. The upper ends of the legs I2 carry saddles II each of which is provided with heavy upstanding ears I8. A derrick proper indicated by the numeral I9 comprises front legs 20 and rear legs 2I suitably braced as at 22, and the lower ends of the legs 29 are arranged between the ears I8 and arepivotally connected thereto by heavy pins 24 having heads 25 at their inner ends.

The legs I2 and I3 at each side of the base II are spaced from the legs at the other side of such base, and the derrick I9 is adapted to swing downwardly to the horizontal position shown in Figure 1 while being shipped to the site of the proposed well,V the lower end of the derrick swinging between the opposite legs of the base Il. When in horizontal position, the derrick is supported by the pivot pins 24 and by a cradle 26- arranged on the rear end of the horizontal base I0. As will be referred to later, the rear por- legs of the derrick, when in vertical position,

are supported by a transverse member 21 extending across the top of the rear side of the base I 2. A guy cable 29 is connected between the cradle 26 and the derrick I9 adjacent the upper end thereof and is provided with a turnbuckle 39. The guy 29 limits swinging movement of the derrick beyond vertical position as will be referred to later. A drawworks 32 may bek arranged on the horizontal base as shown in Figure 1. The elements of the derrick structure referred to form no part per se of the present invention and they correspond to the disclosure of the copending application of Emil A. Bender and Robert E. McCarthy, referred to above.

The device particularly forming the subject matter of the present invention comprises an inner relatively heavy sleeve 35 (Figures 2, 3 and 4) the over-all length of which approximately corresponds to the distance between the inner ears I8 of the two saddles I l, and one side of this sleeve adjacent its ends is cut away as at 36 whereby the end portions of the sleeve 35 are semi-cylindrical in shape. Such semi-cylindrical ends receive the heads `25 of the pins 24 and are provided with outstanding ears 31. Each semicylindrical end of the sleeve 35 is closed by a cap 38 having outstanding ears 39 connected'to the ears 31 by bolts 40. The caps 38 complete the cylindrical form of the ends of the sleeve 35 to rotatably support such sleeve on the heads 25 of the pivot pins 24. Removal of the caps 38 permits the placing and removing of the derrick raising and lowering means as will become more apparent later.

Arms 42 are welded at one end of the sleeve 35 and converge therefrom as shown in Figure 2, and the free ends of these arms are provided with bearing members 43 supporting a shaft 44 rotatably carrying a pair of relatively large spaced sheaves 45 and 46 and an intermediate smaller sheave 47 (Figure 5). The arms 42 are preferably connected by at least one brace 48 to render the arms 42 rigid with respect to each other. The elements 35, 42, etc. constitute the main raising boom for the derrick, and for the purpose of transmitting pulling forces to the derrick when the latter is horizontal the bearing members 43 are provided with eye portions 49 for connection with one end of cables I) (Figure l), the other ends of these cables being connected as at 5I to the derrick, preferably to the respective legs thereof and at a point near the free end thereof.

An auxiliary boom is associated with the main raising boom and comprises a sleeve 55 surrounding the sleeve 35. The sleeve 55 is placed on the sleeve 35 prior to the securing of the arms 42 to the sleeve 35. The arms 42 are preferably welded to the sleeve 35 adjacent the ends of the sleeve 55 and serve to prevent longitudinal sliding movement of the latter relative to the sleeve 35. Arms 55, similar to the arms 42, are welded at one end to the sleeve 55 adjacent the ends thereof and converge toward their free ends. The arms 55 are suitably braced with respect to each other as at 51, and one of such braces, indicated by the numeral 58, is arranged approximately the same distance from the turning axis of the sleeves 35 and 55 as the brace 48. Thebraces 48 and 58 are connected by a cable 59 to limit swinging movement of these elements away from each other to a position approximately perpendicular to each other as shown in Figure 1.

rJ'Jhe free ends of the arms 56 carry bearing plates 62 through which extends a shaft 63. This shaft rotatably supports a pair of spaced relatively large sheaves 54 and 55 and a smaller intermediate sheaver. The bearing plates 62 are provided with projecting portions 6l to each of which is connected a guy cable B8. These cables diverge inwardly and downwardly toward the derrick sub-base I4 when the auxiliary boom is in its horizontal position shown in Figure 1, andthe ends of the cables 58 are connected as at 59 to transversely spaced portions of the substructure I4. The cables 68 prevent upward swinging movement of the auxiliary boom from its horizontal position, and the divergence of these cables from the auxiliary boom laterally stabilizes the latter.

The sleeve 55 is provided with three arms i5, 15 and Il arranged in perpendicular relation as shown in Figure 2 and of progressively increasing lengths, the arm preferably being the shortest of the three arms. When the derrick is shipped to the site, both of the booms are in the positions shown in Figure 7, in which case the shortest arm 'l5 will. depend from the sleeve 55, the arm 'I6 will project horizontally, and the longest arm 'Il will project approximately vertically upwardly. A cable i8 passes around the ends of the arms I5, I5 and ll', these arms being forked at their ends as at le (Figure 2) to retain the cable 'F8 in position around the ends of these arms. One end of this cable is connected to one of the bracing elements ofthe auxiliary boom, for example, the brace 55 (Figure 7), and the other end of the cable extends to a winding drum of the drawworks. It will be apparent that rotation of the drum 8!) exerts a pull on the line l5, and with the auxiliary boom starting from the position shown in Figure '7, the pull on the line 'I8 will be transmitted around the arms 15, 'i6 and il to pull the auxiliary boom upwardly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure l and then downwardly to its approximately horizontal position. In such position, the lines 50 and 59 will become taut, and movement of the two booms will be arrested. At such point,Y the lines 58 will be connected to the sub-base I4.

The force necessary for raising the lderriclr I9 is transmitted from a drum of the drawworks through a cable 85. From the drawworks, this cable preferably passes around the bottom of the sheave 65, upwardly around the sheave 46, downwardly around the sheave 54, upwardly. around the sheave 45 and then downwardly to the sheave 66 to be dead-ended thereto. The

small sheave or thimble 41 preferably acts onlyas a spacer for` the sheaves 45 and 45, although the cable or cables 53 may be connected thereto, if desired, in the same manner that the deadend of the line 35 is connected to the small sheave 66. The winding of the cable e5 obviously pulls the free ends of the two booms relatively toward each other and since the auxiliary boom is anchored, the main boom will be moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 to transmit a pull to the cable 55 and swing the derrick I9 upwardly.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The derrick and its base members l5 andl II.

are preferably hauledrto the site on a trailer, while the sub-base units are hauled on a second trailer. The derrlck unit, as shipped, may, and

preferably does, include the raising mechanism' comprising the two booms, and the cables 563 (Fig,-

ure 1) and 59 (Figure 2) are preferably conV 75 booms and associated elements have been previously assembled and that the booms occupy the positions shown `in lFigure '7, the first step to be taken is to swing the parts vto their initial operative position. The cable T8 is connected lbetween the auxiliary boom and the winding drum vand passes around the ends of the arm '115, TIS and 71,. these elements serving to transmit pulling forces angularly around approximately 180, :thus vrendering it wholly practicable to swing the auxiliary boom from a drum of the drawworks. The auxiliary boom Will swing upwardly to yapproximately vertical position, at which Atime the cable 59 will become taut, and further movement of the auxiliary boom will-then swing the main boom upwardly until lthe positions of the booms in Figure 1 are reached. At this point, the pulling cable 50 becomes taut, and movement of the parts is arrested. The guy cables 68 `are then connected tothe sub-base as at 69 thus yanchoring the auxiliary boom and positively preventing upward swinging movement thereof. The line 18 is then removed from the winding drum, and one end of the cable 85 is connected to the drum, whereupon the latter is operated to wind such end of the cable. The sheaving arrangement illustrated provides for a substantial multiplication of the forces applied to the main boom, and accordingly the latter will start to move downwardly in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in Figure l. Such movement of the main boom transmits forces through the cable 50 to the derrick to .swing the vlatter upwardly.

The movement referred to is continued until the derrick swings slightly beyond vertical position, the turnbuckle 30 (Figure l) being loosened sufficiently to permit such operation to take place. With the derrick held in a position slightly beyond the vertical, the supporting member 21 is placed in position and secured to the base I2. The cable 85 is then slacked 01T to lower the rear ends of the derrick into engagement with the supporting member 21, whereupon the rear legs 2| of the derrick are secured to the supporting member 21. The derrick is now in operative position. The turnbuckle 3i) is thereupon tightened' to render the line 29 taut. The line 5l) then may be disconnected to permit the main boom to swing downwardly and the lines 68 will be disconnected from the sub-base I4. The bolts 40 (Figure 4) then may be removed to permit the removal of the cap 38, and the entire raising mechanism then may be removed, the removal of the caps 38 freeing the sleeve 35 from the heads 25 of the pivot pins 24. Inasmuch as the resultant forces transmitted to the main boom in the raising of the derrick are transmitted longitudinally through the main boom to the heads 25, the cutting of the sleeve 35 as at 36 is preferably in a plane transverse to the plane of the main boom to open away from such boom whereby the forces are taken up by the solid ends of the sleeve 35 rather than by the caps 38.

It will be apparent that the present apparatus provides a highly convenient and effective means for swinging a pivoted derrick or like structure from a horizontal inoperative position to a vertical operative position. The structure includes means whereby the auxiliary boom may be conveniently swung to render the raising apparatus operative, and the construction and arrangement of parts is such as to permit a drawworks on the horizontal base l0 to be used in raising the mast. The derrick proper and the elements of the raising structure all turn on the same axis, namely. the axis of the pins 24, and accordingly the two booms swing on a common axis to assume their initial .operative positions, after which the raisingiboom and the derrick swing as a unit on the same axis. The heads 25 are utilized to support the raising mechanism, and such heads are a .part of the derrick structure as a whole. Accordingly it is unnecessary to provide any separate means for pivotally supporting the raising booms. The forces transmitted through the raising cable `exert forces tending to move the two booms toward each other, and the cables 68 serve to effectively anchor the auxiliary boom and to stabilize it laterally so as to render the pulling forces effective for swing the main boom in the manner stated. It will be obvious that the entire raising mechanism may be easily and quickly removed from the derrick structure after the derrick has been moved to its vertical operative position. It will be apparent, of course, that while it is preferred to employ a drawworks on the platform l 0 for performing the various operations described, the raising of the derrick may be accomplished by any suitable power driven winding drum,

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described may be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

l.. A mechanism for raising an elongated structure from a substantially horizontal inoperative position to an upright operative position, comprising a pair of booms each having a transverse sleeve at one end with one sleeve arranged within and rotatable relative to the other sleeve, means engaging the inner sleeve for pivotally supporting both booms for turning movement on a common horizontal axis, said booms normally occupying substantially horizontal positions adjacent each other and adjacent` the structure to be raised, means :for limiting swinging movement of one boom away from the other, means for limiting swinging movement of said other boom away from said structure, the outer of said sleeves forming a part ci said one boom and having angularly spaced radial arms connected thereto, a cable passing around the radially outer ends of said arms and connected to said one boom whereby a pull on said cable will Swing said one boom to its limit of movement relative to said other boom and will then move said other boom to its limit of movement relative to said structure, and means for transmitting a pulling force to said other boom after it has reached its limit of movement relative to said structure for swinging the latter to an upright position.

2. In combination with a portable derrick having spaced coaxial pivot pins for supporting it for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, a pair of booms each having a sleeve at one end thereof with one sleeve arranged in and rotatable relative to the other sleeve, means for detachably connecting the inner of said sleeves to said pivot means for turning movement on said axis, said booms and the derrick normally occupying horizontal positions to one side of said axis, means for limiting turning movement oi one boom relative to the other boom, means for limiting turning movement of said other boom relative to the derrick, means for transmitting a pulling force to said one boom to swing it about said axis to a position in which its movement is 7 limited relative to said other boomv and move-4 ment of the latter is limited relative to the der# rick, and means for transmitting a pulling force to said other boom to swing the derrick to an upright position.

3. In combination with a portable derrick having spaced coaxial pivot pins for supporting it for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, a pair of booms each having a sleeve at one end thereof with one sleeve arranged in and rotatable relative to the other sleeve, means for detaohably connecting the inner of said sleeves to said pivot means for turning movement on said axis, said booms and the derrick normally occupying horizontal positions to one side of said axis, means for limiting turning movement of one boom relative to the other boom, means for limiting turning movement of said other boom relative to the derrick, means for transmitting a pulling force to said one boom to swing it about said axis to a position in which its movement is limited relative to said other boom and movement of the latter is limited relative to the derrick, means for xing said one boom against reverse'swinging movement after it reaches said last named position, and sheaving carried by the free ends of said booms and about which a cable is adapted to be passed to create forces tending to move said booms toward each other whereby said other boom will be moved to raise the derlick to an upright position.

4. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the outer of said sleeves forms a part of said one boom, the means for raising said one boom comprising a plurality of angularly spaced radial arms carried by said outer sleeve and around the radially outer ends of which a cable is adapted to pass for connection to said one boom whereby a pulling force on said cable will raise said one boom.

5. In combination with a portable derriok and the like having spaced axially alined pvot pins for supporting it for swinging movement between an inoperative horizontal position and an operative upright position, said pins having cylindrical heads at their inner ends, a pair of booms each having a sleeve at one end with one sleeve arranged within and rotatable relative to the other sleeve, the inner sleeve having semi swinging movement of one of said booms relative to the other boom, means for limiting swinging movement of said other boom relative to the derrick, means for anchoring said one boom against swinging movement toward said other boom when said one boom has moved to its limit from said other boom and the latter has moved to its limit from the derrick, and means for transmitting pulling forces to the free ends of said booms tending to move them toward each other whereby said other boom will swing toward said one boom and raise the derrick to operative position.

6. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means tending to move said booms toward each other comprises sheaves carried by the free ends of said booms, and a cable passing around said sheaves.

EMIL A. BENDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 901,073 Dain Oct. 1.3, 1908 901,156 Dain Oct. 13, 1908 1,126,236 Lees Jan. 26, 1915 2,336,305 Selberg et al. Dec. 7, 1943 2,374,074 Berby et al Apr. 17, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 315,266 Germany Nov. 1, 1919 

